Summer Camp and the Swine Flu

When the H1N1 flu virus appeared in the U.S. this spring, it closed schools in the areas it first hit. As it spread, but proved to be milder than first anticipated, the school closings slowed.

When swine flu hit pandemic levels in early June, schools were closing for the summer anyway. Also by then the media's practice of reporting of every new case in an area had died down.

And so for those not in heavily affected areas, summer has gone on as usual with its vacations, summer camps and activities.

However, we've seen reports of the summer camps closing because of H1N1, and the CDC issued H1N1 guidelines for camp directors.

But what are the guidelines for parents? What are our responsibilities to our kids and to everyone else's when we make decisions about summer camp?

Camp is not like school in several ways. Kids are in even closer quarters and exposed to each other's germs 24/7. And camp counselors can't observe each one's health the way a parent can. Also there's no central authority making decisions for summer camps, like a school district. Local health departments play a role, but camps span many jurisdictions, often not the one where a child lives.

But perhaps the biggest difference between school and camp is that many children go from camp to camp all summer, while they stay in the same school all year.

A friend of mine volunteers as camp physician for the annual camp trip for her son's choir. She's done this for years, but this year was different. She sent home several kids with the flu including confirmed cases of H1N1. But the most disturbing observation she made is how kids who were exposed to H1N1 were heading to different camps the next week, while still within the incubation period of the virus.

These kids are potentially the next H1N1 cases waiting to happen at the next camp. The CDC guidelines do allow kids who have been exposed to H1N1 to attend another camp within 7 days (those that have exhibited flu symptoms are are not).

As a parent do you want those kids who have been exposed attending your kid's summer camp? But if it were your child who was exposed, but not showing any symptoms yet, would you send them to their next camp or cancel? Post your comments.